Newark NJ police are searching for the suspect in a jewelry store robbery. After reportedly robbing the store and firing a gunshot at a store merchant, the suspect allegedly committed a carjacking while making his getaway.
The theft incident occurred around 11:45 a.m. last Thursday. According to authorities, the suspect walked into Vinhas Jewelers Inc., which is located on Ferry Street, and approached a salesperson. The suspect then allegedly pulled a handgun out and demanded that the store employee give him several Cuban gold chains.
After the store worker placed the gold chains into a fanny pack, the suspect reportedly ran out of the store. When the owner of the jewelry store followed the robber outside the building, the suspect allegedly fired a gunshot at him.
The suspect then allegedly carjacked a woman who was driving a 2006 Nissan Altima on Polk Street. The suspect was last seen driving away in the Ironbound section of Newark. Newark NJ cops later found the motor vehicle abandoned near the intersection of Somme Street and Raymond Boulevard.
Detectives with the Newark Police Department are actively investigating the robbery and searching for the robber. Law enforcement recently released surveillance video images of the suspect.
If police can eventually apprehend the suspect, he would likely face criminal charges for armed robbery, carjacking, aggravated assault, and weapons offenses.
For additional information about this case, check out the NJ.com article, “Cops Seek Robber Who Shot at N.J. Merchant, Carjacked Woman to Escape.”